Adult Bullying, a Silent Problem

Published October 3rd, 2012

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A simple email to a news anchor in Wisconsin is drawing national attention to a largely- unreported problem.You may have seen the story on good morning America this morning.The news anchor did a three minute story on an email from a viewer who called her fat.Listen to how she responded.

"Do you think I don't know that, that your cruel words are pointing out something that I don't see?

You don't know me you are not a friend of mine, you are not a part of my family and you have admitted that you don't watch the show; so you know nothing about me but what you see on the outside and I am much more than just a number on scale."

Typically when we talk about bullying, we think of children.

But TV 20's Alex de Armas reports... that news anchor is far from the only adult who has felt bullied.

This video really touched us here at TV20... since we are also part of the media.But what really stuck out to us is the fact that Jennifer Livingston used media to shine light on an issue often kept in the dark:Adult bullying.A concept some have never even considered... but to some, a familiar struggle.

"I was bullied as a child myself in school …a lot," said Kristie Brooks, a healthcare worker.

When most people think of bullying, we think of it happening among kids... calling one another names.

"It didn't stay with me but I've seen it happen a lot in my workplace," said Brooks.

But Kriste Brooks tells us, she still sees this in her job as a healthcare worker.

"There's this one patient that always calls me names all the time," said Brooks. "No matter what. I don't let it bother me"

And neither did Jennifer Livingston, a news anchor from Wisconsin who received an email from a viewer calling her fat... making her a bad example for her community's young people.

"I'm a grown woman, and luckily for me I have a very thick skin, literally as that e-mail pointed out and other wise," said Livingston. "And that man's words mean nothing to me. "

Bullying among adults is something Dr. John Scanzoni says isn't talked about often, but surely is a problem often shoved to the side.

"There's really almost no research among adults, a lot on kids, but almost none on adults because like you say it's been brushed off," said Scanzoni who is also a sociology professor at the University of Florida.

But Scanzoni says that brushing off offensive comments made in the workplace isn't the solution.

"You know the old saying kids use to say in the school yard, sticks and bones may break my bones but names will never hurt me? I think most all adults have assumed that, but they don't realize that words do hurt and they can make a difference," said Scanzoni.

A negative difference that Livingston says children will make as well.

"This behavior is learned. It's passed down from people like the man who wrote me that email," said Livingston. "If you are at home and talking about the fat news lady, guess what, your children are probably going to go to school and call someone fat."

While Livingston stood up to bullying... Brooks tells us that if you are getting bullied at work, you can get help.

"I think that they should talk to someone about it," said Brooks. "Or have a session…get a session going for people who are getting bullied."

If you are being bullied, Scanzoni advices to reach out to your Human Resources Department.